Building a treadmill desk

[Strangler Lewis]

Sue! Sue! Sue!

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Sue! Sue! Sue!

Originally Posted by Article

The treadmill, which costs around 4,500 dollars for a base model, never exceeds a speed of three kilometers (two miles) per hour, which according to the manufacturer allows most people to use it for a few hours each day.

Heh, what a rip. I built mine for about 1/4 of that and I can still use it for jogging should I ever care to.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Quick! Draw up some plans and pitch this baby!

Perhaps you could simply sell a mod kit, or a desk that fits various treadmills....

[catfiend]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Heh, what a rip. I built mine for about 1/4 of that and I can still use it for jogging should I ever care to.

Note that there are less expensive alternatives to the Walkstation. I don't have a treadmill and I have no interest in running so I'm looking at one called the Tread Desk. The treadmill is designed to paired with a more or less regular standing desk or with an adjustable one that they sell. I also like the fact that you can kick it up to a faster walk for times when you're not trying to really work.

What do you like most about working on a treadmill desk? What do you like least? Just trying to get all of the information I can before making my own decision.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by catfiend

What do you like most about working on a treadmill desk? What do you like least? Just trying to get all of the information I can before making my own decision.

There is a lot of good. I tend to stay more focused and as a result the day goes faster and I get more done. The more I walk the better I feel. I sleep better and overall have more energy. That effect could be physical or just in my head but I don't really care much which it is. The effect is real. I do know that (as mentioned above) I can walk a lot farther in the real world without discomfort since I started used the Treadmill desk.

There are some down sides....
If I'm working on a very detailed/thorny problem then walking turns into a distraction and I have to go back to the desk. So don't think you can just get rid of your old desk and chair.

To ease moving between the desk and treadmill, I setup an a/b switch-box for the monitors and attached and extra USB keyboard/mouse. I have also picked up a pair of cheap radio-shack brand wireless headphones so I can rock out and not get tangled up in wires.

Some days I just don't feel like walking and have to live with the guilt.

Co-workers have a wide range of reactions (geek, dork, wow, where can I get one....) and I had quite the fight against the evil forces of management that were sure this radical idea would cause the complete collapse of western civilization.

Design wise, you need to be able to rest your forearms level on the desktop to give you adequate support for typing and mouse moving. If you scroll back up you will see the design I came up with has a 'U' shaped cutout and was custom built to match my height.

I have settled in at 1.2mph as the pace I use. Any faster and I have trouble typing or start sweating. I expect it also helps that I am able to set the temp in my office. I keep it at about 68-69 degrees. On the plus side most visitors don't stay around too long.

Overall I rate it five stars - double plus good, how in the hell did I ever live without it.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Overall I rate it five stars - double plus good, how in the hell did I ever live without it.

OTOH, it is going to be nine years until you go to Disneyland again.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

OTOH, it is going to be nine years until you go to Disneyland again.

Oh yeah, that's the other thing Catfiend..... Naysayers. You will have to deal with that that a lot.

In my case I have pasted a photo of Kevy to the tread of my desk and spend most of my day giggling as I step on his face over and over and over.....

[catfiend]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

There is a lot of good. I tend to stay more focused and as a result the day goes faster and I get more done. The more I walk the better I feel. I sleep better and overall have more energy. That effect could be physical or just in my head but I don't really care much which it is. The effect is real. I do know that (as mentioned above) I can walk a lot farther in the real world without discomfort since I started used the Treadmill desk.

Those are the things I'm most interested in - less the walking distance in the real world as I haven't managed to exhaust mine in years. I LOVE to walk. Losing some weight would be nice but having more zip at the end of the day and sleeping better will help a lot on the weight loss side.

There are some down sides....
If I'm working on a very detailed/thorny problem then walking turns into a distraction and I have to go back to the desk. So don't think you can just get rid of your old desk and chair.

I'm hoping to get rid of the chair side and just use a standing desk. I'm OK standing while I work as long as I don't have to do it for too many straight hours.

Some days I just don't feel like walking and have to live with the guilt.

For days like that I'll just bop back down to the dining room table - where I've been working for the last 6 months as we work through the project that will, as a side effect, give me some office space where I can setup a small treadmill.

Co-workers have a wide range of reactions (geek, dork, wow, where can I get one....) and I had quite the fight against the evil forces of management that were sure this radical idea would cause the complete collapse of western civilization.

That's one I don't need to worry about. My boss is also a telecommuter and he's looking at doing the same with the treadmill that he already has!

Design wise, you need to be able to rest your forearms level on the desktop to give you adequate support for typing and mouse moving.

That's an important tidbit that I hadn't picked up elsewhere. As I look at my hands right now, typing at the dining room table, I can see that that's almost exactly how I'm positioned now and it feels very natural. That tells me how tall I need my desk to be.

If you scroll back up you will see the design I came up with has a 'U' shaped cutout and was custom built to match my height.

Overall I rate it five stars - double plus good, how in the hell did I ever live without it.

Sounds like the running theme for people who have tried it: It's fantastic and I don't ever want to go back. Thanks!

[catfiend]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Oh yeah, that's the other thing Catfiend..... Naysayers. You will have to deal with that that a lot.

In my case I have pasted a photo of Kevy to the tread of my desk and spend most of my day giggling as I step on his face over and over and over.....

I hadn't thought of that.... This has Serious possibilities! I'm lucky that I get along fine with most of my coworkers but there's one.........

The only naysayer that I'm worried about is my wife and I think she's starting to believe that I'll make it work. If she was fully convinced then she'd happily spring for the Walkstation since she's finally figuring out that investing in my (or her) health is becoming more important as we approach 50.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by catfiend

The only naysayer that I'm worried about is my wife...

If you set up an automatic link that shows your progress and tie it into your next visit to Disneyland, you will have two naysayers. Just ask Moonie